• Alert - No Active Alerts
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to main menu
  • Need help resizing text?
  • State Agencies
  • A-Z Topics
The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Go to Mass.Gov Home
Search

Main Menu

  • Home & Family

    Expand Home & Family

    • Buying or selling a home

      • Home improvement & maintenance
      • Buying or selling a home
      • Renters & landlords

    • Elders

      • Housing and independent living
      • Retirement
      • State tax information for elders & retirees

    • Consumer protection

      • Consumer protection complaints and mediation
      • Guide to Mass. credit and consumer protection laws
      • Protecting yourself from scams and identity theft

    • Marriage & divorce

      • Marriage and living together
      • Divorce and annulment
      • Get a birth, death or marriage certificate

    • Birth, death & name changes

      • How to get a copy of a death certificate
      • Guide to Mass. law about name changes
      • Consumer guide to funeral planning

    • Managing your finances

      • Insurance
      • A guide to consumer credit
      • A guide to bankruptcy

    See all 7 topics in Home & Family

    Most Requested

    • How to get a marriage license
    • MassHealth
    • Veterans' Service Officers: Find local VSO
    • See All Most requested links in Home and Family

    Related Agencies

    • Housing & Economic Development
    • Elder Affairs
    • Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation

  • Jobs & Education

    Expand Jobs & Education

    • Find a job

      • Civil service employment
      • Job search tools including JobQuest
      • Career planning

    • Unemployment assistance

      • Unemployment insurance
      • Health care, retirement info for laid-off workers
      • Training support & career resources

    • Childhood education

      • Child care & preschool education
      • K-12 education
      • Educational resources for parents & caregivers

    • Adult education & training

      • Find a GED testing center
      • Financial aid for adult education & training
      • Apprenticeships

    • Higher education

      • Public higher education campuses
      • Higher education financial aid & savings programs
      • Student loans

    • Early intervention & special education

      • Early intervention
      • Approved private special education schools
      • Guide to the Turning 22 law

    See all 8 topics in Jobs & Education

    Most Requested

    • Civil service employment
    • Find a GED testing center
    • MCAS high school graduation requirements
    • State job listings for most agencies
    • WebCert: File for unemployment benefits online
    • See All Most requested jobs and education resources

    Related Agencies

    • Department of Career Services
    • Dept. of Early Education & Care (EEC)
    • Dept. of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
    • See All Related agencies for jobs and education

  • Health & Safety

    Expand Health & Safety

    • Health care

      • Find a doctor
      • Find a dentist
      • Compare hospital quality and cost

    • Health insurance

      • MassHealth: Medicaid in Massachusetts
      • Health Connector
      • Consumer guide to health care coverage

    • Diseases & health conditions

      • Flu
      • A-Z health topics
      • Disease prevention

    • Crime & the justice system

      • Firearms registration & gun laws
      • Find a criminal offender
      • Find a sex offender

    • Emergencies & disasters

      • Ready.Gov – Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.
      • Weather and natural hazards
      • Mass.Gov Alert System

    • Disabilities

      • Deaf, late deafened, and hard of hearing
      • Learning disabilities
      • Visual disabilities

    See all 9 topics in Health & Safety

    Most Requested

    • Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)
    • Firearms registration & gun laws
    • Health care & insurance
    • MassHealth
    • Virtual Gateway
    • See All Most requested

    Related Agencies

    • Department of Public Health (DPH)
    • Department of Public Safety
    • Health and Human Services
    • Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS)
    • See All Related agencies

  • Energy & Environment

    Expand Energy & Environment

    • Air, water & land

      • Air quality
      • Climate
      • Drinking water
      • more...of Air, water, and land

    • Energy, utilities & green

      • Alternate fuel types & fuel vehicles
      • Clean energy workforce & development programs
      • Energy efficiency
      • more...of Energy, utilities, and green technology

    • Farming, forestry, hunting, & fishing

      • Agricultural regulations
      • Agriculture
      • Commercial fishing
      • more...of Farming, forestry, hunting, and fishing

    • Hazardous materials & environmental emergencies

      • Household hazardous wastes
      • Collection centers for hazmat household products
      • Report a spill or environmental crime
      • more...of Hazardous materials and environmental emergencies

    • Recycling & waste management

      • Recycling topics & information
      • Environmental resources & issues
      • Bottle & can recycling
      • more...of Recycling and waste management

    • Regulations, compliance, & assistance

      • Agricultural regulations
      • Environmental health
      • Environmental law enforcement
      • more...of Regulations, compliance, and assistance

    Most Requested

    • Fuel assistance info for consumers
    • Hunting & trapping
    • MEPA (Mass. Environmental Policy Act)
    • See All Most Requested

    Related Agencies

    • American Lung Association
    • Bureau of Environmental Health
    • Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
    • See All Related Agencies

  • Tourism & Recreation

    Expand Tourism & Recreation

    • Dining & shopping

      • Savor Massachusetts
      • Find places to shop
      • Healthy dining
      • more...of Dining and shopping

    • Getting around

      • Airports
      • Maps
      • Parking, driving, and traffic
      • more...of Getting around

    • History & culture

      • Arts, music, & theater
      • Civil War sites
      • Freedom Trail
      • more...of History and culture

    • Nature and farms

      • Locate a farm
      • Nature trails
      • Zoos, aquariums, gardens, & nature centers
      • more...of Nature and farms

    • Outdoor activities

      • Parks, camping, hiking, and biking
      • Recreational licenses, permits, & registrations
      • Wildlife watching
      • more...of Outdoor activities

    • Tours & events

      • Group tours
      • Sporting events
      • Tours & sightseeing
      • more...of Tours and events

    See all 8 topics in Tourism & Recreation

    Most Requested

    • Ice skating
    • Maps to get around
    • US Passport information
    • See All Most Requested

    Related Agencies

    • Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism (Massvacation)
    • Department of Agricultural Resources
    • Department of Conservation & Recreation
    • See All Related agencies for tourism and recreation

  • Transportation

    Expand Transportation

    • Driver's licenses & state ID cards

      • Convert your out of state license
      • Get a Mass. state ID card
      • Renew your Mass. drivers license or state ID card

    • Owning & maintaining your car

      • Register a car/truck, motorcycle, or other vehicle
      • Auto insurance
      • Required emission and safety inspections

    • Commuting & public transportation

      • Drive or carpool
      • Train or subway
      • Bus or boat

    • Highways, parking & traffic

      • Logan Airport parking
      • Live traffic cameras
      • Join the FAST LANE program

    • Airports, planes, trains & buses

      • Regional bus and transit authorities
      • Commuter rail schedules and maps
      • Register a private plane

    • Boats, motorcycles & other motorized vehicles

      • Own a motorcycle or moped
      • Own a boat or other motorized vehicle
      • Passenger cruise terminal

    See all 7 topics in Transportation

    Most Requested

    • RMV branch locations, hours & wait times
    • Car and truck lemon law
    • Driving manual and laws

    Related Agencies

    • Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
    • Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
    • MBTA commuter rail & subway

  • Business

    Expand Business

    • Starting or relocating a business

      • Forming a business: Step-by-step guide
      • Infrastructure
      • Find a business site

    • Economic development & financial support

      • Help for small businesses & startups
      • Hiring & training funding & support
      • General business development & financial resources

    • Business licenses, permits & regulations

      • License research tools
      • General business regulations & certifications
      • Requirements for specific business entities

    • Employer & workplace information

      • Employer's guide to Mass. laws and regulations
      • Finding & hiring employees
      • Workforce management

    • Selling to state & local government

      • Selling to the state: Vendor requirements & forms
      • Selling specific services to the state
      • Comm-PASS

    • International trade & exports

      • International trade guide
      • Exporter financing: Loans & insurance
      • Massachusetts Export Center

    See all 8 topics in Business

    Most Requested

    • WebFile for Business
    • QUEST: File quarterly employment & wages online
    • Corporate filings
    • Sales Tax & Use Tax Guide
    • See All Most requested business resources

    Related Agencies

    • Dept. of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
    • Department of Revenue (DOR)
    • Secretary of the Commonwealth
    • Division of Professional Licensure
    • Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office
    • See All Related agencies for businesses

  • Government & Taxes

    Expand Government & Taxes

    • Branches & agencies

      • Executive branch
      • Legislative branch
      • Judicial branch

    • Open government

      • Budget
      • Spending
      • Lobbyist registrations & reports

    • Participate in government & serve your community

      • Vote
      • Participate in the legislative process
      • Volunteer in your community

    • Taxes

      • Individuals & families
      • Businesses & employers
      • Tax professionals, state tax information

    • State employees

      • Jobs in public service
      • Benefits & policies
      • Retirement information

    • Local & county government

      • Cities & towns
      • Counties & regions
      • Procurement information for local officials

    See all 8 topics in Government & Taxes

    Most Requested

    • Budgetary process
    • Open checkbook
    • PayInfo login for state employees
    • Department of Revenue (DOR)
    • Tax forms, instructions & mailing addresses
    • Sales Tax & Use Tax Guide
    • Motor vehicle excise tax
    • Webfile for Income: File & pay personal income tax
    • Webfile for Business: File & pay business taxes
    • QUEST: File quarterly employment & wages online
    • Cities & towns
    • See All Most Requested

Breadcrumbs

  1. Home
  2. Home & Family
  3. Renting or owning a home

Renters and landlords

Tenant and landlord rights and responsibilites


Affordable housing rentals


Federal housing and rental assistance programs

Learn more about renting and HUD rental assistance programs.

Landlord and tenant law


Mass. Housing Court


Rental insurance


How to protect yourself when renting a vacation home


How to obtain housing assistance


Complementary Content

Topic Menu

  • About Mass.Gov
  • Help
  • Mass.Gov® Site Policies

© 2012 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Mass.Gov® is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.